The Andrews Labor Government is ramping up pressure on the Turnbull Government to bring a multi-billion defence vehicle manufacturing contract to Victoria.
Minister for Trade and Investment Philip Dalidakis today visited Ford’s former Geelong site to inspect the BAE Systems Australia’s AMV35 vehicle and meet workers from local defence supply chain company Marand.
Marand – one of Victoria’s biggest defence supply chain companies – will build the hulls and turret shells for the new vehicles, should BAE Systems Australia win the contract for the LAND 400 Phase Two project.
The company is looking to increase its footprint in Geelong and base a significant part of their LAND 400 work at the former Ford factory.
That would create as many as 60 new jobs in Geelong, including positions suitable for former automotive workers.
LAND 400 Phase Two is worth around $5 billion and would create up to 2,000 manufacturing and supply chain jobs in Victoria.
A final decision on which state is awarded the contract will be made by the Commonwealth next year.
BAE Systems Australia has also agreed to partner with other Victorian supply chain companies including MOOG Australia, Motec, AME Systems, RUAG Australia, DVR Engineering and APV to build vehicle components for LAND 400.
Victoria’s defence sector is worth $8 billion to the local economy annually, and is made up of about 20,000 people and more than 400 businesses.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Trade and Investment Philip Dalidakis
“Billions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs – that’s what LAND 400 means to Victoria.”
“This is a golden opportunity for the Turnbull Government to give certainty to our manufacturing sector and support new supply chain jobs in Geelong and right across Victoria.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll
“Victoria is the home of vehicle manufacturing – we’ve got the workforce, the expertise and the supply chain to build next-generation vehicles for the Australian Army.”
“We need the Turnbull Government to bring this work to Victoria and create thousands of opportunities for workers leaving our automotive sector.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020